Provincial Under 17 and Under 20 hurling competitions get underway this weekend
Hurling in Ulster will be strengthened with the introduction of inter-county provincial competitions at U17 and U20 level for the 2023 season, which get underway this weekend.
Four competitions across the two age grades, the U17 Hurling Cup and Development League and the U20 Hurling Cup and Development League, will see each of Ulster’s counties compete against each other over the next six weeks.
This Saturday, Donegal will host Antrim in the U17 Hurling Danny McNaughton Cup, while the Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Development League commences with Tyrone taking on Armagh at Garvaghey.
Ulster GAA Vice President, and Chair of the Ulster GAA Hurling Committee, Michael Geoghegan commented:
“The development of the All-Ireland Celtic Challenge (U17) and the Richie McElligott Cup (U20B) has rejuvenated hurling at these age grades.
“The Ulster U17 Danny McNaughton Cup and the U20 Hurling Cup are very important competitions which aim to promote hurling in Ulster. These games programmes will see our counties gain valuable game time and allow for grading within their own provincial system, before moving onto the relevant graded national competitions.
“The U17 Development League gives counties an opportunity to be graded for the upcoming Celtic Challenge competition, while the Danny McNaughton Cup sees the finalists of that competition go into the Leinster Tier One and Tier Two and be able to challenge themselves against some of the best underage hurlers from that province.”
2023 Ulster GAA Hurling U17 Danny McNaughton Cup
The Ulster GAA Hurling U17 ‘Danny McNaughton Cup’ will be played during February and March ahead of the GAA’s Celtic Challenge competition.
Four teams, Antrim, Down, Derry and Donegal, will play off in a round-robin format, with each team playing each other once. The top two teams will then play in an Ulster Final, scheduled for Saturday 11th March
The winners will advance to compete in Tier One of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship starting in April, while the runners-up enter into Leinster Tier Two, which begins at the end of March.
Ulster GAA Hurling U17 Development League
The Ulster GAA Hurling U17 Development League will be played throughout the months of February and March.
There are six counties participating; Armagh, Antrim Development (Under 16), Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone. This competition will take place prior to the Celtic Challenge.
Teams will be placed in the one section and play each other team once. The team that finishes top of the section after all games will be the winner.
Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Cup
Four counties will compete for this U20 competition; Antrim, Down, Derry and Donegal, with teams placed in one section and playing each other once in a round-robin format.
The top two teams will then play in an Ulster Final scheduled for Saturday 11th March, with the victors progressing to the Leinster U20 Hurling Championship. The runners-up and remaining two teams enter into All-Ireland U20B competition, the Richie McElligott Cup, of which Down are the current champions.
Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Development League
The Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Development League will be played during the months of February and March, and features four counties, Armagh, Cavan, Fermanagh and Tyrone, placed in the one section and playing each other once.
This competition will take place prior to the All-Ireland U20B competition.
2023 Ulster GAA Hurling U17 Danny McNaughton Cup Schedule
Roinn 3 – Saturday 11th February
Dún na nGall V Aontroim at Convoy
Roinn 1 – Wednesday 15th February
Aontroim V Doire at Dunsilly
Roinn 1 – Saturday 18th February
Dún na nGall V An Dún at Convoy
Roinn 2 – Saturday 25th February
Dún na nGall V Doire at Convoy
An Dún V Aontroim at TBC
Roinn 3 – Saturday 4th March
Doire V An Dún at Owenbeg
FINAL – Saturday 11th March
First placed team v Second placed team
Ulster GAA Hurling U17 Development League Schedule
Roinn 1 – Saturday 18th February
Tír Eoghain V An Cabhán
Ard Mhacha V Muineachán
Fear Manach V Aontroim
Roinn 2 – Saturday 25th February
An Cabhán V Ard Mhacha
Fear Manach V Tír Eoghain
Aontroim V Muineachán
Roinn 3 – Saturday 4th March
An Cabhán V Muineachán
Ard Mhacha V Fear Manach
Aontroim V Tír Eoghain
Roinn 4 – Saturday 11th March
Fear Manach V An Cabhán
Muineachán V Tír Eoghain
Ard Mhacha V Aontroim
Roinn 5 – Saturday 25th March
Tír Eoghain V Ard Mhacha
Muineachán V Fear Manach
Aontroim V An Cabhán
Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Cup Schedule
Roinn 1 – Wednesday 15th February
Aontroim V Doire
Saturday 18th February
Dún na nGall V An Dún
Roinn 2 – Saturday 25th February
Dún na nGall V Doire
An Dún V Aontroim
Roinn 3 – Saturday 4th March
Doire V An Dún
Dún na nGall V Aontroim
FINAL – Saturday 11th March
Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Development League Schedule
Roinn 1 – Saturday 11th February
Tír Eoghain V Ard Mhacha
Roinn 2 – Saturday 18th February
Tír Eoghain V An Cabhán
Roinn 3 – Saturday 25th February
An Cabhán V Ard Mhacha
Fear Manach V Tír Eoghain
Roinn 4 – Saturday 4th March
Ard Mhacha V Fear Manach
Roinn 5 – Saturday 11th March
Fear Manach V An Cabhán
